Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has never been a midfielder who hides. Whether loved or criticised, the Portuguese playmaker continues to define games with bold decisions, daring passes, and a refusal to play it safe — and now, he has explained exactly why.
Speaking in a recent conversation with former United defender Rio Ferdinand, Fernandes offered rare insight into his footballing philosophy, particularly amid growing criticism around his relatively low pass completion rate for a midfielder.
At 31, Fernandes remains one of United’s most influential figures. This season alone, he has registered five goals and seven assists, once again underlining his importance to the Red Devils. Yet, despite those numbers, criticism continues to follow him — much of it focused on his willingness to attempt difficult, high-risk passes that sometimes lead to turnovers.
For Fernandes, however, that criticism misses the bigger picture.
“I wasn’t brought here to be a safe player,” his comments suggest — and his explanation makes that crystal clear.
Bruno arrived at Old Trafford as an attacking midfielder, operating high up the pitch where creativity and risk are expected. Over time, especially under Ruben Amorim, his role has evolved. He has been asked to drop deeper, control games, and show more discipline in possession. And while his game has matured, one thing hasn’t changed: his commitment to vertical football.
“If I was smart, I wouldn’t take risks,” Fernandes said.
“Risks can bring rewards or the other side of that. If I don’t take risks, no one will ever say Bruno has lost the ball. I will just play side-to-side and backwards.”
But that approach, in his view, doesn’t help Manchester United win games.
“I am not a safe player because I know if I start doing that, I will not be helping the team,” he continued. “I take the risk because I want to help Josh [Zirkzee] and Ben [Šeško] to score goals. I want to help Cunha, Mason [Mount], Bryan [Mbeumo], Amad.”
It’s a mindset that separates playmakers from passengers. Fernandes understands that creativity lives on the edge of failure. Every defence-splitting pass carries the risk of interception, but it also carries the promise of goals, chances, and momentum.
In a team that has often struggled for incision and attacking cohesion, Bruno’s willingness to gamble is not recklessness — it’s responsibility.
While critics may point to misplaced passes, the numbers tell another story: goals created, attacks sparked, and pressure sustained. Fernandes isn’t playing for clean stat sheets; he’s playing to tilt the game in United’s favour.
Love him or question him, one thing is undeniable — Bruno Fernandes is built to decide matches, not simply circulate the ball. And as long as Manchester United need ambition, urgency, and bravery in midfield, risk will remain part of his game.
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